Hello again. I haven’t posted in awhile. My portion of The Dish focuses on vegetarian dining, and a change in my work schedule has curtailed my opportunities for dining out as often as I once did.

But I still get out a little. My wife and I have started going out to lunch on Saturday afternoons before I go to the office. (That has a side benefit; if the portion is too large — and restaurant portions usually are — I have a ready-made dinner of leftovers for my evening meal at work.)

On a recent Saturday, we visited the new Saigon Bistro at Lakeside Village after seeing its uniformly positive reviews on UrbanSpoon. Its motto is “Fine Dining. Fast.” And it lived up to the motto.

The decor is spare and utilitarian. For my tastes, the multiple video screens would be more appropriate in a sports bar. An abundance of hard surfaces make the space a little loud.

The staff, which was plentiful the day we went, was pleasant and courteous. The owners, who have lived in Polk County since 1983, and managers have either hired well or trained well — or both.

Our server, Rebekah, is a vegetarian and was able to speak authoritatively to vegetarian options on the menu of mostly Vietnamese items. She knew without having to go back to the kitchen that the pho soup I asked about was made with a meat stock, so it was off limits as a vegetarian choice.

Rebekah recommended the Red Curry in Coconut Sauce with Tofu, a good choice at $8.50. My companion enjoyed the Vietnamese Pancake (more like an omelet), hold the pork, for $7.95.

I ordered a Boba Tea and was surprised when they asked if I wanted the boba pearls — which I thought were an essential part of Boba Tea. I hadn’t noticed on the menu that the bobas in Boba Tea are 50 cents extra. Whatever.

Just about any of the entrees can be ordered with tofu, making much of the menu accessible to vegetarians.

About This Blog

Welcome to The Dish, a forum for sharing all things related to dining, cooking and shopping for good things to eat in Central Florida. Whether you’re a serious foodie, or just love to dish about food, this is the place for a healthy dose of information, musings and recipes.